Birth parents and youth involved with the child welfare system need information to help them better understand the system and play an active role in their own case planning. The following resources include training curricula and materials geared toward families and youth, including State and local examples.
Assessing Parent Education Programs for Families Involved With Child Welfare Services: Evidence and Implications: Full Report (PDF - 521 KB)
Johnson, Stone, Lou, Ling, Claassen, & Austin (2006)
Provides outcome data generated from 70 of the most rigorously evaluated parenting education programs with families determined to be abusive, neglectful, or at risk of child maltreatment.
Finding Your Way: Guides for Fathers in Child Protection Cases (PDF- 15,811 KB)
National Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers and the Child Welfare System (2011) Provides a series of short guides with important tips for noncustodial fathers involved in child protection cases focusing on issues such as the father's legal rights, child support, and courtroom etiquette.
Handbooks for Birth Parents
National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections
Provides links to handbooks available online for birth parents whose children have entered the foster care system.
Out-of-Home Care Manuals for Children and Youth
State Guides and Manuals Search
Offers State-specific aid for child and youth involved in the child welfare. This information can be found by selecting the State of interest, the out of home care topic, and the children and youth audience.
Supporting Parents of Young Children in the Child Welfare System
Beckmann, Knitzer, Cooper, & Dicker (2010)
Explores the challenges and opportunities of improving mandated parent training for parents of young children in the child welfare system.
State and local examples
Do's and Don'ts of Interacting With Child Welfare Agencies (PDF - 81 KB)
Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (2008)
Lists strategies parents receiving child welfare services should use when interacting with child protective services and behaviors they should avoid.